Rory Sloane's testimony and his extensive history of eye and facial injuries have helped save the Adelaide captain from a one-week AFL suspension.
The Crows star successfully argued at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night his charge of making contact to the eye region of Fremantle utility Blake Acres should be downgraded from intentional to careless.
That meant his penalty went from a one-game ban to a $2,000 fine, meaning he will play against Collingwood on Saturday at the MCG.
It's a big night at the tribunal, with West Coast forward Willie Rioli and Brisbane's Mitch Robinson challenging their own one-game bans.
Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson QC referred directly to Sloane's evidence when explaining the jury's verdict.
He added while the vision suggested Sloane's contact to Acres' eye area was intentional, several factors also went in favour of the Adelaide player, including his awkward position after tackling the Dockers player.
Acres also suffered no injury in the incident.
"He was clear, forthright and adamant that he did not intend to contact the eye region," Gleeson said.
"Having listened carefully to his evidence, we believe him."
The Crows acknowledged the incident was low impact and high contact, but were adamant it was not intentional.
In his evidence, Sloane detailed his own history of facial and eye injuries because of football, including a detached retina last year that had the potential to end his career.
"I'm very aware of what even just a little scratch in the eye can do, even just a poke," he said.
"There's no way I'd go after anyone's eye because I'm very aware of the damage it can cause.
"I was super close to being finished in football and close to losing my eyesight so there's no way I'd go near anyone's eye."
Sloane added he was "genuinely shocked" when made aware of the charge.
Rioli made his comeback in Sunday's loss to Gold Coast after serving a two-year ban for doping violations, but his bump on Suns young gun Matt Rowell earned him a one-game suspension.
Rioli left the ground and was a fraction late to the contest, leaving Rowell sore from a collision that was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Brisbane on Monday confirmed they would challenge the one-match suspension handed to Mitch Robinson for forceful front-on contact against Port Adelaide's Xavier Duursma.
The incident was graded as careless conduct, high contact and medium impact.
Duursma suffered a collarbone injury and is no certainty to play in round two.
St Kilda defender Dougal Howard is challenging his $3,000 fine for rough conduct against Collingwood ruck-forward Mason Cox with a written submission to the tribunal.
Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong (striking, $2,000), Gold Coast backman Will Powell (tripping, $1,000) and Essendon ruckman Sam Draper (striking, $2,000) accepted their penalties.
